Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
RONIN
My phone vibrates on the wooden table where I sit in my dining room.
I take a swig from my beer before I pick it up, unlocking the screen to see who the message is from.
My pulse stumbles, causing my fingers to loosen their grip on the bottle.
It hits the table with a hard clank, jolting me from my shock enough to grasp the message scrolled across my phone.
Hey Ronin… it’s Mel. I’m not sure if you have my new number, sooo. Here it is
Well, this is unexpected. I don’t attempt a reply, not wanting to come across too desperate for her attention. My heart slams against my chest, anticipation pumping through my veins.
I’m sorry. I can explain, but just know that I am so sorry. For everything
I waited for her tonight. I sat under the gazebo for an hour, until it was clear that she wasn’t coming.
It was just past 9:00 p.m. by the time I made it back home.
I’ve been sitting in the same spot ever since, making my way through the six-pack I grabbed from the diner on my way out, emotions warring between annoyance, frustration, and self-pity.
I type out a reply, delete it, and type out a new one.
That could mean a lot of things. Care to elaborate?
Three tiny dots appear immediately as Mellie types out a reply.
I drink from my beer while I wait, nerves buzzing over the fact that she actually reached out.
This is what I wanted, to talk things out, but hearing from her after being ditched tonight fills me with apprehension over what she plans to say.
Well for starters, I’m sorry for tonight. I fell asleep. It’s not a good excuse, but it’s the embarrassing truth
Idk if you could tell, but I was pretty drunk last night and suffered from a pathetic hangover all day. I’m too old for this shit
I smirk, recalling the many times over the years I had to nurse her back to sobriety after a night of too much fun. The woman could never hold her alcohol.
Ah, so that was you who was dancing on the benches in front of Sal’s? It was the talk of the town today. Surprised you didn’t hear.
I did no such thing. You know Evan is the dancer in our family, not me
I laugh. God, I miss her humor.
I’ll make sure the correction is made before it goes into the Blue Fields Gazette gossip column this weekend. I think Cindy is already working on her article.
Oh God, let’s hope not. Cindy hates me. She never got over that sleepover in eighth grade when I accidentally cut her hair with crafting scissors
I can see the headline now. “Blue Fields Welcomes Home Dancing Queen Amelia Baker Years After Tragic Hair Cutting Scandal!”
I’ll have to convince her to delete that drunk picture of you I already emailed her, though. Sorry about that.
You haven’t changed one bit, Ronin Kane
My throat feels tight. I miss this—this easy banter between us. It used to be like this all the time before. Maybe it’s not too late to get it back.
Jury’s still out on you. Must conduct some further research, I think.
Well, lucky for you, I’ll be here til the new year. Plenty of time for experimentation
Don’t tease me with a good time, Baker.
Am I flirting with her? Jesus, I think I am. I need to chill. We’re barely back on speaking terms.
Don’t tease me with experiments, Kane. You know science is my weakness
A laugh escapes me. Science was Mel’s worst subject in high school.
By weakness, I can only assume you mean kryptonite. Don’t forget, I was there when you failed chemistry and spent the summer making up the credit
There is no reply yet, no jumping tiny dots on my screen to show she’s typing. I finish my beer and stand up to clear away the empty bottles. My stomach grumbles loudly, so I stop by the fridge to grab a slice of leftover pizza.
Leaning on my kitchen counter, I chew my cold pizza and contemplate what to say to her next.
I should be pissed at her for standing me up, but for some reason, I’m not.
I’m tired of being away from her. For years, I held on to my hurt and the anger when she left without telling me.
I want to move on from that and try to salvage the friendship I miss so fucking much it makes my chest hurt.
After rinsing my hands off, I pick my phone back up and send another message. I’m not ready for the conversation to be over yet, and I hope she hasn’t fallen asleep.
You’ll be at the cookie exchange tomorrow, right?
A few minutes go by, and just when I’m ready to give up and head to bed myself, I get a reply.
Sure will
Well. See you then, Mel. Night.
Goodnight, Ronin